191: Clyde Stubblefield

There are some musicians who live in multiple universes at the same time. Clyde Stubblefield was one of those. From 1971 until his death in 2017, he lived and worked in Madison, Wisconsin. He was a local treasure, a celebrated adopted son of the midwest, and a legendary character. For those who had the chance to know him, to play with him and to see him in action, he was like a brother.

At the same time, he has come to take on a kind of mythological status among funk musicians and enthusiasts, DJs, producers and fans. His recordings from the late 1960s with James Brown are considered to be some of the standard-bearers for funk drumming, “Funky Drummer” which by many accounts is the most sampled beat of all time, which is why Clyde is often called the most sampled drummer of all time.

To me, he has always been both. I was born in Madison in the late 1970s and Clyde was a big part of the local scene, and someone who would regularly pass through my living room as well because he played often with my dad, Ben. He was my first drum teacher, and later on he would also be one of the first artists that I produced.

On the occasion of what would have been his 78th birthday, I reflect on Clyde’s life and legacy from a personal point of view, revisit recorded conversations that my dad and I had with him over the years, and consider a series of live gigs and records with him going back to the early 1970s.

A new sample collection of Clyde’s drumming, taken from his performances on the album Clyde Stubblefield: The Original was released this week by Yurt Rock. The tracks were originally recorded in 2001.

And a new documentary film about Clyde’s life and legacy is also in the works. www.givethedrummersomefilm.com

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